Not your ordinary beauty institute, Franklin Beauty School has been around for almost a century, instructing and aiding disadvantaged students in hopes of helping them obtain a cosmetology license and bettering their lives. Miss J, the current owner of Franklin Beauty School, who became part of the legendary family business at the tender age of 23, tells us that Franklin is more than a business but the key to a better life.
Thanks to Oprah’s OWN Network, you can catch a glimpse of Miss J aka “Mama J,” her team and student’s everyday life at Franklin Beauty School on their newest reality TV show, “Houston Beauty.” Pray with them, walk with them through their struggles and watch them succeed! We recently caught up with Miss J, who tells us just how amazing this opportunity is:
“You have to see all of the series to see how such a negative situation can be turned into a positive. Many people will look at just the negative. You have to stay tuned to see where that negative took that student. I would like viewers to see that a majority of the time, we have a positive outcome.”
Tune in to the series premiere of “Houston Beauty” on Saturday, November 2 at 10/9c and check out more of Miss J’s interview below.
Why did you want to do reality TV?
We did not go after this reality TV show, a production company contacted us and made some calls. I called my sons and said that they wanted to do a reality show and we were stunned because never ever did we want to do a reality show so the family got together and we said let’s go for it. The production company came down shortly after and filmed a pilot which was later shopped around to several networks .Although several networks wanted the show, the production company chose the Oprah Winfrey Network. When they came back and told us who bought the show we were just beside ourselves. It was very amazing!
How long have you had the Franklin Beauty School?
The school is almost 100-years-old founded in 1915 by my husband’s grandmother, Madam N.A. Franklin. The school has never closed. We have four generations of the family that have and are currently working including my son who is now working at the school.
What is your biggest student success story?
I had a student about 10 years ago who came in with all sorts of issues. She had family problems, money problems and could never keep her head on straight but she was an excellent stylist. We spotted the talent in her; she had so many problems that could have prevented her from working in this field. So, I made her my challenge and I would call her in once a day, counsel her, we would pray together and just make sure that she got the necessary guidance to make it through whatever she was facing that day. Today she is one of my most successful cosmetologists. She is now making a lot of money and was able to turn her life around. And the day she came in here and thanked me for helping her, not only getting her license it made me feel so good because she had conquered all of her personal challenges. There have been many but that is one success story that will stay with me forever.
What type of training/license can students earn at Franklin?
They can earn a cosmetology license, which takes 9 months to a year if they go full time and once they receive their license they can do anything in the future. They can do hair, nails, make-up, pedicures, weaving and anything to do with hair. We also have the instructor course where once you receive your cosmetology license, you can go to school to be a cosmetology instructor and that takes 7 months to a year for completion. We have a short course called the braiding course, where you can get your braiding license in one week for $35. The amazing thing about the braiding course is that the state cosmetology board does not require testing to receive this license. After completing the $35 course you would contact the board to pay for your license and you are fully licensed.
Have cosmetology and teaching always been your passion?
“No!” she laughed. Teaching yes but cosmetology no. I am originally from New Orleans and my husband is from Houston. Eight months later, we were married. I graduated from Dillard University in New Orleans to be a French teacher and the week after that I was married and moved to Houston. A few months after residing in Houston, my father-in-law asked me to take the cosmetology course and I thought he was losing his mind because I never had a desire to do hair. Then he asked me to take the instructors course. I took that course also and he made me manager of one of the Franklin Beauty School’s at the age of 23-years-old. And I say today that if the students back then were the way they are today, I do not know if I would make it!
What is a typical day like at Franklin?
Well, we didn’t realize this until after we started the reality show but there is no acting. What you see actually happens in the school. Sometimes we have to work through the arguments, trying to get along with each other. Sometimes we have to help students get food and many days they don’t even have money to buy lunch. Sometimes we have to give them lunch money. That’s when I get fussed at by my boys. They say I’m doing too much but that’s what I feel is the right thing to do.
What is your management style?
The management style that I feel I have is to be caring, to listen, to try to get the students back on track and like I said, I really just care about them and want to see them succeed.
ruthie hawkins/@ruubabie
